The American University of Beirut (AUB) honored 93 graduates of its Higher Education Scholarships (HES) program at a graduation ceremony attended by students, families, mentors, university leaders, and representatives from the US Embassy in Lebanon.
Funded by the US government, the HES program expands access to higher education for students from underserved and low-income backgrounds across Lebanon, including Lebanese nationals and refugees. Since its launch in 2011, the program has supported 891 scholars at AUB, providing opportunities for academic growth, leadership development, internships, research, and community engagement.
In her remarks, Dr. Samar Harkouss, director of the HES program and of the University Preparatory Program (UPP), told the graduates: “Today, I don’t simply see a graduating class. I see 93 success stories, stories of courage, resilience, and hope.” Speaking about the challenges many students faced throughout their university years, Harkouss added, “AUB refused to let your dreams fade. And you refused to give up on yourselves.”
A video screened during the ceremony showcased the experiences of HES scholars from Beirut, Tripoli, Zahle, Baalbek, Saida, Sour, and other parts of the country. Students spoke of overcoming financial hardship, building toward academic and professional futures, and giving back to their communities.
Among those recognized was Jamila Abo Latifa, a graduating student in medical laboratory sciences, who shared a deeply personal account of her experience. Having lost both parents, Abo Latifa spoke about finding the determination to continue her education and pursue the future they had envisioned for her. Describing the moment she learned she had been accepted into the HES program, she recalls, “For many people, it may have sounded like an ordinary phone call. But for me, it felt like life was giving me permission to dream again.”
AUB President Fadlo Khuri commended the graduating class for its perseverance and achievement in the broader context of equity and access. “Each and every one of you represents a widening circle of opportunity across regions, communities, and backgrounds that all too often remain underserved,” Khuri said. “You came here as individuals who needed the opportunity to break through an economic titanium ceiling, and you’ve done it.”
Highlighting the profound impact of supporting future generations, US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Keith Hanigan spoke of the power of education: “It is not charity. It is investment. It is belief. It is proof that when we open doors to education, we open doors to possibility,” Hanigan said. “You are the change. You are the hope. You are Lebanon’s better tomorrow.”
The ceremony also featured an instrumental interpretation of “Call It Fate, Call It Karma,” performed by two HES scholars, as well as an exhibition highlighting the scholars’ success stories and their volunteering and community engagement initiatives, and concluded with a dinner.
About AUB
Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut bases its educational philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts model of higher education. A teaching-centered research university, AUB has more than 790 full-time faculty members and a student body of over 9000 students. AUB currently offers more than 140 programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and PhD degrees. It provides medical education and training to students from throughout the region at its Medical Center that includes a full-service 365-bed hospital.
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